Dividing and scaling instrument



April 3, 1951 M. s. CADE ETAL DIVIDING AND SCALING INSTRUMENT 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 16, 1947 Inventor .m m M A a. Z a am e 8. smm. W 0 MJ and April 3, 1951 M. s. cAbE ETAL DIVIDING AND SCALINGINSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 16, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

Ap 1951 M. S.CAIDE ET AL 2,547,745

DIVIDING AND SCALING INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 16, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Inventor Marcus 5. Code James E. McL augh/in Patented Apr. 3, 1951UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIVIDING INSTRUMENT I Marcus S. (Jade andJames E..McLaughlin,

Chillicothe,

Ohio

This invention relates to novel and useful improvements in draftingdevices and instruments, and has for its general purpose to establishparallel tangent lines and to divide any known distance intosubstantially any number of equal elements.

Another object of this invention is to provide function.

Another purpose of this invention. is to provide means in a bodymemberfor convergingly receiving scribing means therein.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide means for locking andretaining a scale over said converging scriber receiving means.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide a simple device of thecharacter described which is readily manufacturable and which willeconomize considerably in time, by utility thereof.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art, in following the description of the embodiments ofthe present invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the first form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2 2 ofFigure 1 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a sectional view illustrating details of construction andtaken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a detail of construction;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view with portions broken away toillustrate details of construction and further exemplifying operativefeatures of the invention;

Figure 6 is a plan view of of the invention;

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional view of the invention shown inFigure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the pencil orother scriber receiving means; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view indicating the reversibilityof this embodiment of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the illustrated preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, like reference characters are used throughout toindicate similar elements.

This invention has been developed to provide a device for dividing andscaling purposes. As is known, radii of a circle diverge a distancewhich a second embodiment .means for carrying out the above mentioned isproportional to the length of the said radii. Consequently, any tangentto the circle may be I divided into equal parts by striking a pluralityof equally spaced radii therethrough. Of course, if it is desired toportion the tangent to a greater or lesser number of parts, the numberof radii employed need only be adjusted. It is on this principle thatthe instant invention has been developed.

The body member ID composed of any suitable material, preferablytransparent, is provided with a plurality of slots l2. These slots arearranged so that, if extended, they would intersect at a common point.Otherwise spoken, the said slots I 2 may be considered radii of acircle. Any number of desired slots may be provided in the body memberID, in accordance with the prerogatives of the manufacturer.

A pair of posts I 4 and 18, respectively, is pro vided, extendingsubstantially centrally of the said body member l0. These posts may beconventionally secured to the said body member through the utility ofany suitable means such as the screw threaded assembly is disclosed inFigure 2. A rail 20 extends across the said posts l4 and I6 respectivelyand is threadedly received therein.

Going now to Figure 5, it will be noted that a support is. provided onthe said rail 28 and is slidable thereon. This support is preferablycomposed of a pair of sections 22 and 24 respectively which are securedtogether by means of countersunk screws 26. The lower portion of each ofthe said sections 22 and 24 is recessed and preferably recessed in sucha manner as to receive a conventional scale 28 therein. Obviously, thescale engages the support and also the upper surface of the body memberIll.

Means for locking the scale 28 in a selected position along thelongitudinal axis of the said rail 2|] is provided. This means ispreferably a simple cam 30 positioned on the end of a small shaft 32which extends through the sections 24. An actuating lever 34 may beextended from the said shaft 32 for facility in operation. Due to theshape of the said cam, upon a selected position of the actuating handle34, the scale 28 will be biased against the body member Ill and also thesupport will be locked to the said rail 20. It is noted at this pointthat the word scale is utilized for illustrative purposes only and thatother members may be substituted in lieu thereof such as a conventionalstraight edge.

In utility of the invention, a straight edge may be placed against oneof the walls of the body member 10. If desired, a dovetail-slot 36 maybe provided in the edge member of the said body member for receiving acomplemental tongue 38 therein. This tongue would be provided on asuitable datum element 40 for facility in operation.

Suitable indicia are fixed to the body member wherever found desirableand it is noted that it is within the purview of the present inventionto utilize both sides of the body member as working surfaces. Also, ifdesired, the slots I2 may be tapered or straight in accordance withmanufacturing prerogatives.

In use of the device the scale 28 is employed as an aid to dividedistances into equal increments. For example, if a distance of one inchis to be divided into fifteen equal parts, the scale 28 is movedupwardly from the position shown in Figure 1 until the marking lineadjacent the 2 on the scale is superposed on the groove extending fromthe zero at the top of the body member and the 3 on the scale 28 issuperposed on the groove extending from the marking 1.5 on the bodymember. Then each groove between these provides a scriber receivingguide for a marking to provide the necessary separation points for theincrements.

Going to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 6, there isanother body member disclosed, indicated at 42, and having slots 44therein similar to the said slots i2.

This particular embodiment of the present invention is extremely simplein construction, and consequently very inexpensive to manufacture. It issimply a flat body member having the slots 44 therein and suitableindicia at appropriate places on the said body member. For facility inoperation, lines which are substantially transverse to the generalarrangement of slots may be provided. Also, it is within the purview ofthis invention to place lines or scriber markings adjacent or even inlieu of the slots to further assist in facility of operation.

While there has been described and illustrated the preferred embodimentof the present invention, the operation of the invention is deemed quiteobvious from the structure and functions set forth in both the objectsand formal specification. It is apparent, however, that variousdepartures may be made from the invention without departing from thespirit thereof. Accordingly, limitation is sought only in accordancewith the scope of the following claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A drafting instrument comprisinga body member having converginggrooves therein, a rail secured to said member in spaced relationtherewith, a support slidably received on said rail, recesses in saidsupport, a scale in said recesses, cam means in said support operablyengaging said support and said scale for locking said scale against saidbody member.

2. A drafting instrument comprising a body member having a plurality ofconverging grooves for sectioning a line into a number of equal parts,and means for establishing one or more lines parallel to said lineincluding a rail secured to said body member and spaced from the uppersurface thereof, a support having a recess, said support being slidablydisposed on said body member with said rail disposed in said recess, ascale disposed on said body member and extending through said recessbeing located transversely of said rail, a cam lock member rotativelymounted in said recess, a pivot pin mounted in said support for rotationhaving said cam lock member carried thereby, and said cam lock membeengaging said rail and said scale pressing said scale firmly againstsaid body member.

MARCUS S. CADE. JAMES E. MCLAUGHLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 867,556 Campbell Oct. 1, 19071,044,461 Linnemann Nov. 12, 1912 1,243,786 White Oct. 23, 19171,699,619 Muench Jan. 22, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date327,447 Germany 1920 374,514 Italy Aug. 26, 1939

